Kiruna, Sweden, Aug 19 (AP) — Transporting one of Sweden's cherished wooden churches involves a blend of engineering, a bit of divine intervention, and a dash of Eurovision spirit. The Kiruna Church, known locally as Kiruna Kyrka, is in the process of being relocated this week, traveling 5 kilometers east to a new city center due to the expansion of the world's largest underground iron-ore mine, which poses a threat to the town.
In the past days, a throng of visitors has made their way to Kiruna, located 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle in Sweden's north. The town is home to approximately 23,000 people, including members of the Sami Indigenous community, and spans nearly 19,500 square kilometers.
Lena Tjarnberg, the church's vicar, is slated to commence the relocation with a blessing on Tuesday morning, with the journey set to conclude on Wednesday afternoon. The church, a gift from the mining company LKAB, was voted by the Swedish public in 2001 as the “best building of all time, built before 1950” in a Ministry of Culture-associated poll.
Constructed on a hill to provide worshippers with a view of Kiruna, the Swedish Lutheran church was designed in the Sami architectural style as an offering from the state-run LKAB. While the Kiruna mine dates back to 1910, the church was finalized in 1912. Its neo-Gothic facade has become the town's signature landmark, attracting tourists until its closure a year ago in preparation for the relocation. The church is anticipated to reopen in its new home by late 2026.
Tjarnberg reflected on the poignant final service at the original site. “Closing the church doors for the last time, knowing we won't reopen them for years — and in a different location — is deeply moving,” she remarked. “It's uncertain what it will feel like to open them again in a new setting.”
The relocation has evolved into a two-day, meticulously organized media event managed by LKAB, featuring Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and performances by KAJ, Sweden's 2025 Eurovision contender. Despite being a favorite, KAJ lost to Austria's countertenor JJ in the recent contest.
Sweden's national broadcaster SVT is taking advantage of the spectacle by streaming the event live, dubbing it “The Great Church Walk” as a nod to its successful annual broadcast “The Great Moose Migration,” which has captivated viewers since 2019.
Kiruna is renowned for its Midnight Sun and Northern Lights, drawing visitors throughout the year to Swedish Lapland. The area also offers attractions like the Aurora Sky Station, the Icehotel, and Kebnekaise, Sweden's tallest peak.
British visitors Anita and Don Haymes, who had been to Kiruna twice before, adjusted their travel plans to witness the church relocation. “What they are doing is extraordinary,” Anita Haymes commented on Sunday, adding, “It's unbelievable.”
However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the celebration. Sami community leader Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen has expressed concern that LKAB's new mining endeavors could disrupt reindeer migration paths and threaten the livelihoods of local herders.
The plan to move Kiruna's town center, including the church, has been underway since 2004 as the mine's deepening created fissures in buildings and roads. To reach a new mining depth of 1,365 meters and prevent the town from succumbing, officials initiated the relocation of buildings to a safer downtown vicinity.
As of July, 25 structures had been transported east on raised beams. Sixteen structures, including the church, are still awaiting relocation. With a width of around 40 meters and a mass of 672 metric tons, moving the church necessitated significant effort. Engineers expanded a key road from 9 to 24 meters and dismantled a viaduct to facilitate a new intersection.
A driver, utilizing a substantial control panel, will navigate the church along the route over roughly 12 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, with breaks each day for “fika,” the Swedish tradition of an afternoon coffee break. The church is expected to progress at speeds ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 kilometers per hour.
LKAB's project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson declined to disclose the total expenditure for the church move undertaken by the mining company. (AP) SKS GRS GRS
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